An operating system is a program that acts as an interface between the user and the computer hardware and controls the execution of all kinds of programs.
Following are some of important functions of an operating System.
- Memory Management
- Processor Management
- Device Management
- File Management
- Security
- Control over system performance
- Job accounting
- Error detecting aids
- Coordination between other software and users.
-
Security − By means of password and similar other techniques, it prevents unauthorized access to programs and data.
-
Control over system performance − Recording delays between request for a service and response from the system.
-
Job accounting − Keeping track of time and resources used by various jobs and users.
-
Error detecting aids − Production of dumps, traces, error messages, and other debugging and error detecting aids.
-
Coordination between other softwares and users − Coordination and assignment of compilers, interpreters, assemblers and other software to the various users of the computer systems.
